Smell from bones awful – neighbours

THE foul smell of rotting meat from a Cove Rock man’s boat has invaded the homes of his neighbours.

Dawie Bezuidenhout is accused of selling meat from his property, and not complying with health regulations.

Bones are placed in the boat at the back of a yard. Neighbours claim the area is infested with flies and the smell of rotting meat overwhelming at times.

Bezuidenhout has admitted to collecting bones but denied selling meat.

The Saturday Dispatch visited the premises yesterday. Bezuidenhout was not there but when asked where meat could be bought, a woman named Stephamie said we were in luck.

She said “madolo” (knees), meat and bones, all beef, were sold. The meat was sold to locals at low prices, ranging from R10 to R15. According to Stephamie, meat was received on a Wednesday and Friday.

“What we do is we get the bones like those ones in the boat from the abattoir and they still have some meat … left on them, and we cut the meat off and that’s what we sell.”

Stephamie claimed meat could be sold to people hosting events if they ordered in advance.

She said meat was also sold near the airport on Wednesdays. Stephamie did not know what the bones were used for, but employees said they were possibly used to make dog food in Stutterheim or Cathcart.

GRISLY SITUATION: Left, bones piled up in a boat near Dawie Bezuidenhout’s home are causing an unbearable stench for neighbours. Right, Bezuidenhout shows Facebook friends how meat is cut from bones received from an abattoir. He insists he does not sell meat Picture: MICHAEL PINYANA/FACEBOOK

When the Saturday Dispatch later confronted Bezuidenhout, he denied selling meat. “No, no no, I’m not selling meat. I don’t sell meat, I’m dealing in bones.”

When we insisted that we know people who had bought meat from his premises, he said: “So? That’s got nothing to do with you, it’s mos my life.

“I can do whatever I want to with my meat.”

Neighbours, who asked not to be identified, said they were fed up with the smell. “When the wind blows it stinks so much, you feel like throwing up,” one said.

The place where meat is allegedly taken from bones is a zinc structure with a concrete floor. There are three refrigerators, one of which was bloodstained and another rusted. The Saturday Dispatch did not see a wash basin, which by law is required when handling food.

Chairman of the Buffalo City Metro branch of the South African Institute of Environmental Health, Khanya Bisholo, said he was aware of the claims made about Bezuidenhout.

However, Bezuidenhout had told the institute he was not selling meat.

After seeing Facebook pictures of the premises where meat was reportedly handled, Bisholo said the premises pictured did not comply with health regulations.

“I have consulted with the relevant inspector of the area in question. He said the owner indicated that he is only cutting bones from a certain abattoir and after which [he] dries them for an unknown purpose.

“The owner maintains that he does not sell any meat from his premises.

“But if such activity creates a nuisance in terms of attracting flies and [creating] offensive odours …. [Bezuidenhout can be instructed] to take corrective measures or refrain from such an activity.”

Bisholo said neighbours had complained about the smell from the bones.

Bezuidenhout’s alleged activities were in violation of the Meat Safety Act 40 of 2000, the National Health Act of 2003 dealing with hygiene in places from which meat was sold, as well as regulation 962 under the Foodstuff and Cosmetics act.

If he was breaking the law, he would face a fine or be asked to stop his activities. — vuyiswav@dispatch.co.za

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“I have consulted with the relevant inspector of the area in question. He said the owner indicated that he is only cutting bones from a certain abattoir and after which [he] dries them for an unknown purpose.”